He built three houses while begging for 25 years

7 March 2019 09:00 am - 10 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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By Srinath Prasanna Jayasuriya

A blind man (65) who had been begging on trains for 25 years which had enabled him to build three houses and own a bank account with Rs. five hundred thousand in it, was arrested by the Railway Security Service on Monday (4).

He told the authorities that of the three houses he had built he had already given two to his daughters as dowries while the third he was planning to give out on rent. On the day he was arrested he had in his possession Rs. 4000 that he had collected from commuters travelling between the Gampaha-Colombo Fort Railway Stations.

He is a widower and a resident of Gampaha. He explained that he had not forgotten his duty to his two daughters who now own cars while his son-in-laws too have good jobs.
He said blindness is a blessing in disguise which had helped him earn Rs. 150,000 a month.

He said his two daughters know that he begs on trains. When he was arrested he was decently dressed and travels to the station in a trishaw. When one of his daughters got to know that he had been arrested by the Railway Security, she had come to get him, arriving at Railway Security Headquarters in her car.

Assistant Superintendent of Railway Security M.P. Jayantha conducted inquiries on the instructions of Superintendent of Railway Security Anura Premaratna.

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Comments - 10

Fathima Thursday, 07 March 2019 10:56 AM

"Sons-in-law"

Roshanaly Thursday, 07 March 2019 01:40 PM

Why should he be arrested? what is the offence he has committed.

sujith Thursday, 07 March 2019 02:19 PM

Why was he arrested

Shelly Thursday, 07 March 2019 05:05 PM

Then our ministers who go begging to World Bank and IMF should also be arrested as they buy cars and make houses, day light robbery

Ranjith Chandrasekera Friday, 08 March 2019 04:13 AM

Initially he may have started begging to keep his family going. Later when he earned enough money to giveaway dowries for two daughters and built a third house for renting need not beg as poor. Still continuing begging is an act of deception which is a punishable crime.

Andrew Silva Friday, 08 March 2019 06:30 AM

This man did not harm any one.He is blind and only mode of income is through begging, is it his fault if he became rich by hard work. It's not easy work to walk all day with a begging bowl and unbearable heat conditions. He should be admired. Please leave this man alone.

Mrs kusum jay Sunday, 10 March 2019 09:03 PM

Strict ban should be established in all public transport services. Begging is a disgrace to Sri Lankan image. Disgrace to Buddhist philosophy.

Banda Tuesday, 19 March 2019 05:08 PM

Madam Kusum Jay, what about those wide-eyed not so blind ministers in Diyawanna, aren't they a disgrace to Buddhist Philosophy…, just asking anneh!

Moorthy Monday, 15 April 2019 06:39 PM

He is a good lesson for all.His duty towards his daughters fulfilled.Good money management.He didnt ask for job from the government like our graduates

Gus the hones Saturday, 11 May 2019 12:27 PM

Sri Lanka is a BEGGAR Nation resulting from its COMMUNAL Politics since independence.

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He built three houses while begging for 25 years

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